Jessica's Garden

Architect's Statement

Jessica's Garden was designed by E. Baird Dixon of Street Dixon Rick Architecture, Nashville, TN. In his words:

Jessica's Garden is designed to honor the memory of Jessica Frankel, class of 2013, and to provide a place for Laurel students to gather together for an outdoor class, conversation, or simply to enjoy the outdoors. The landscape elements of the Garden include a variety of sedums, ornamental trees and container plants specially selected for this location. A green screen wall is located at the north end. Benches in several locations provide seating in the Garden. In the center is a fountain, designed to encourage reflection through the gentle sound of its continuously flowing water. Jessica's Garden is a model of sustainability for Laurel School and the surrounding community. Green roofs absorb rain water, insulate conditioned spaces underneath, and help cool and filter the air in hot weather. Walkway pavers in the Garden are made of recycled material.

Green Roof

A LiveRoof® brand system was installed in Jessica's Garden. LiveRoof® is a modular system that unites the soil across a monolithic continuum. This allows for equal distribution of moisture, fertility, and beneficial organisms, and is the key to long term function of the green roof system. During spring, summer, fall, or winter, a LiveRoof® looks like a beautiful meadow.

Benches

The benches in Jessica's Garden are manufactured from teak. The provider, Country Casual, requires that only ecologically grown and harvested timbers from managed, sustainable forests be used in the manufacture of their furniture. The unique properties of teak ensure the benches will last for decades.

Container Plants

Chosen for their adaptability and seasonal display of color, the container's plantings include both perennials and annuals.

• •Trees — Malus Firebird (crab apple)
• •Pots — Spirea Little Princess
• •Green Wall — Clematis Paniculata